Obstruction removal system
An obstruction removal device is described, having one or more engaging members which can engage portions of the clot. The one or more engaging members have a collapsed, delivery state, and an expanded, deployed state which in some embodiments can be locked to maintain its fixed configuration.
1. An obstruction removal device comprising:
a pusher sized for accessing vasculature and having a pusher lumen extending between a distal end of the pusher and a proximal end of said pusher;
a plurality of engaging members connected at said distal end of said pusher and configured to capture a thrombus within said vasculature;
an elongated element positioned in said pusher lumen and extending from said distal end of said pusher and being connected to said plurality of engaging members, and further extending beyond said proximal end of said pusher; said elongated element longitudinally moveable relative to said pusher so as to cause said plurality of engaging members to adopt an expanded or collapsed shape; and
a locking mechanism selectively preventing said elongated element from moving relative to said pusher and thereby locking said plurality of engaging members in at least one of said expanded or said collapsed shape;
wherein said locking mechanism comprises a fixture fixed to said elongated element and positioned within each of said plurality of engaging members; said fixture having a plurality of recesses adapted to align and engage a plurality of struts of the plurality of engaging members.
2. The obstruction removal device of claim 1 wherein said elongated element spans both said pusher and said plurality of engaging members.
3. The obstruction removal device of claim 1 further comprising a collet located near said proximal end of said pusher and being selectively engageable with said elongated element to prevent movement of said elongated member relative to said pusher.
4. An obstruction removal system comprising:
a plurality of engaging members adopting an expanded shape outside of a delivery device and a collapsed shape within the delivery device;
a pusher tube having a distal end connected to the plurality of engaging members and having a pusher lumen extending therethrough;
an elongated shape controller spanning the pusher tube and which can be moved independently of the pusher tube to cause the plurality of engaging members to adopt the expanded or collapsed shape outside of the delivery device; and
a locking mechanism selectively fixing movement of the shape controller relative to the pusher tube, thereby locking the shape of said plurality of engaging members outside of said delivery device;
wherein the elongated shape controller is connected to and controls the shape of all of the plurality of engaging members; and,
wherein the locking mechanism includes a structure mounted over the elongated shape controller and configured to contact the engaging members, where each engaging member has its own dedicated structure.
5. The obstruction removal system of claim 4 wherein the elongated shape controller spans both the pusher tube and the plurality of engaging members.
6. The obstruction removal system of claim 4 wherein the delivery device is a microcatheter.
7. The obstruction removal device of claim 4 further comprising a collet located near a proximal end of the pusher tube and being selectively engageable with the elongated shape controller to prevent movement of the elongated shape controller relative to said pusher tube.
8. An obstruction removal system comprising:
a plurality of engaging members adopting an expanded shape outside of a delivery device and a collapsed shape within the delivery device;
a pusher tube having a distal end connected to the plurality of engaging members and having a pusher lumen extending therethrough;
an elongated shape controller spanning the pusher tube and which can be moved independently of the pusher tube to cause the plurality of engaging members to adopt the expanded or collapsed shape outside of the delivery device; and
a locking mechanism selectively fixing movement of the shape controller relative to the pusher tube, thereby locking the shape of said plurality of engaging members outside of said delivery device;
wherein the locking mechanism comprises a region of enlarged diameter on the elongated shape controller and an opening in the pusher tube sized to capture the region of enlarged diameter.